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"Come now,'

"saith

for he will in no wise cast thee out. Christ, "and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. i. 18.

"And him." There was many a strange "him" came to Jesus Christ, in the days of his flesh; but he received them all, without turning any away, "speaking unto them of the kingdom of God, and healing such as had need of healing." Luke ix. 11; iv. 40.

These words, "and him," are therefore words to be wondered at. That not one of them, who by virtue of the Father's gift, and drawing, are coming to Jesus Christ, I say, that not one of them, whatever they have been, whatever they have done, should be rejected, or set by, but admitted to a share in his saving grace. It is said in Luke, that the people "wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth." Luke iv. 22. Now this is one of his gracious words. These words are like drops of honey, as it is said (Prov. xvi. 24), "Pleasant words are as a honey-comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." These are gracious words indeed, even as full as a faithful and merciful high-priest could speak them. Luther saith, "When Christ speaketh, he hath a mouth as wide as heaven and earth." That is, to speak fully to the encouragement of every sinful "him" that is coming to Jesus Christ. And that this word is certain, hear how himself confirms it. "Heaven and earth," saith he, "shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matt. xxiv. 35. It also confirmed by the testimony of the four evangelists, who gave faithful relation of his loving reception of all sorts of coming sinners, whether they were publicans, harlots, thieves, possessed of devils, bedlams, and what not? Luke xix. 1-10; xv. xxiii. 41-43; Mark xvi. 9; v. 1–9.

This then shows us, 1. The greatness of the merits of

GREATNESS OF CHRIST'S MERITS.

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Christ. 2. The willingness of his heart to impute them for life to the great, if coming, sinners.

1. This shows us the greatness of the merits of Christ; for it must not be supposed, that his words are bigger than his worthiness. He is strong to execute his word. He can do, as well as speak. "He can do exceeding abundantly more than we ask or think," even to the uttermost, and outside of his word. Ephes. iii. 20. Now then, since he includeth any coming "him;" it must be concluded, that he can save to the uttermost sin, any coming "him."

Do you think, I say, that the Lord Jesus did not think before he spake? He speaks all in righteousness, and therefore by his word we are to judge how mighty he is to save. Isa. Ixiii. 1. He speaketh in righteousness, in very faithfulness. When he began to build this blessed gospel fabric, he first sat down, and counted the cost; and knew he was able to finish it! What, Lord, any "him!" any "him"

that cometh to thee!

This is a Christ worth looking after; this is a Christ worth coming to.

This then should learn us diligently to consider the natural force of every word of God; and to judge of Christ's ability to save, not by our sins, or by our shallow apprehensions of his grace; but by his word, which is the true measure of grace. And if we do not judge thus, we shall dishonor his grace, lose the benefit of his word, and needlessly fright ourselves into many discouragements, through coming to Jesus Christ. Him, any "him" that cometh, hath sufficient from this word of Christ, to feed himself with hopes of salvation.

As thou art therefore coming, O thou coming sinner, judge thou, whether Christ can save thee, by the true sense of his words: judge, coming sinner, of the efficacy of his blood, of the perfection of his righteousness, and of the prevalency of his intercession by his word. "And him," saith he, "that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." "In no wise,"

that is for no sin: judge therefore by his word, how able he is to save thee. It is said of God's sayings to the children of Israel, "there failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass." And again, "Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you, all are come to pass unto you; and not one thing hath failed thereof." Josh. xxi. 45; xxiii. 14.

Coming sinner, what promise thou findest in the word of Christ, strain it whither thou canst, so thou dost not corrupt it, and his blood and merits will answer all. What the word saith, or any true consequence that is drawn therefrom, that we may boldly venture upon. As here in the text, he saith, "And him that cometh," indefinitely, without the least intimation of the rejection of any, though ever so great, if he be a coming sinner. Take it then for granted, that thou, whoever thou art, if coming, art intended in these words. Neither shall it injure Christ at all, if, as Benhadad's servants served Ahab, thou shalt catch him at his word. "Now," saith that text, "the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him," that is, any word of grace; "and did hastily catch it." And it happened

that Ahab had called Benhadad his brother. The man replied therefore, "Thy brother Benhadad!" catching him at his word. 1 Kings xx. 33. Sinner, coming sinner, serve Jesus thus, and he will take it kindly at thy hands. When he in his argument called the Canaanitish woman'dog,' she catched him at it, and said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table." say, she catched him thus in his words, and he took it kindly, saying, “O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Matt. xv. 26. Catch him, coming sinner, catch him in his words, surely he will take it kindly, and will not be offended at thee.

I

2. The other thing that I told you is showed from these

WILLINGNESS OF CHRIST TO SAVE.

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words, is this: The willingness of Christ's heart to impute his mercies for life to the great, if coming sinner. him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

"And

The awakened coming sinner doth not so easily question the power of Christ, as his willingness to save him. “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst," said one. Mark i. 40. He did not put the if upon his power, but upon his will; he concluded he could, but he was not fully of persuasion that he would. But we have the same ground to believe he will, as we have to believe he can; and indeed, the ground for both, is the word of God. If he was not willing, why did he promise? Why did he say, he would receive the coming sinner? Coming sinner, take notice of this, we use to plead practices with men, and why not with God likewise? I am sure we have no more ground for one than the other; for we have to plead the promise of a faithful God. Jacob took him there. "Thou saidst," said he, "I will surely do thee good." Gen. xxxii. 12. For, from this promise he concluded, that it followed in reason, he must be willing.

The text also gives some ground for us to draw the same conclusion. "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Here is his willingness asserted, as well as his power suggested. It is worth your observation, that Abraham's faith considered rather God's power, than his willingness; that is, he drew his conclusion "I shall have a child,” from the power that was in God to fulfil the promise to him: for he concluded he was willing to give him one, else he would not have promised one. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform." Rom. iv. 20, 21. But was not his faith exercised, or tried, about his willingness too? No, there was no show of reason for that, because he had promised it: indeed had he not promised it, he might lawfully have doubted it; but since he had pro

mised it, there was left no ground at all for doubting, because his willingness to give a son was demonstrated in his promising him a son. These words therefore are sufficient ground to encourage any coming sinner, that Christ is willing to his power to receive him; and since he hath power also to do what he will, there is no ground at all left to the coming sinner, any more to doubt; but to come in full hope of acceptance, and of being received unto grace and mercy.

"And him that cometh." He saith not, and him that is come; but "and him that cometh;" that is, and him whose heart begins to move after me, who is leaving all for my sake; him who is looking out, who is on his journey to me.' We must therefore distinguish betwixt coming, and being come to Jesus Christ. He that is come to him, has attained of him more sensibly what he felt before he wanted, than he has that but yet is coming to him.

A man that is come to Christ, hath the advantage of him that is but coming to him: and that in seven things.

1. He that is come to Christ, is nearer to him than he that is but coming to him. For he that is but coming to him, is yet, in some sense, at a distance from him; as it is said of the coming prodigal, "And while he was yet a great way off." Luke xv. Now he that is nearer to him, hath the best sight of him; and so is able to make the best judg ment of his wonderful grace and beauty. As God saith, "Let them come near, then let them speak.” And as the apostle John saith, "And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world." Isa. xli. 1; 1 John iv. 14. He that is not yet come, though he is coming, is not fit, not being indeed able to make that judgment of the worth and glory of the grace of Christ, as he is that is come to him, and hath seen and beheld it. Therefore, sinner, suspend thy judgment till thou art come

nearer.

2. He that is come to Christ has the advantage of him

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